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SELECTIONS 


FROM     THE 


THOUGHTS  OF  MARCUS  AURELIUS 


FOR 


EVERY    DAY    IN    THE    YEAR 


BY 


SARA  CARR  UPTON 


SELECTIONS 


FROM  THE 


THOUGHTS      OF      MARCUS      AURELIUS** 


FOR  FAERY    DAY    IN    THE    YEAR 


RY 


SARA   CAEK   UPTON 


NEW-YORK 
PRINTED   ON    THE   MERGENTHALER    LINOTYPES 


1888 


U7 


COPYRIGHT:    1888: 

By 
SARA       CARR       UPTON. 


Every  line  in  this  pamphler, 

was  set  up  by 
THE  MERGENTHAJLER  LINOTYPE  MACHINE. 


THOUGH  T  S 
OF  THE 

EMPEROR  MARCUS  AURELIUS. 


JANUARY  1. 

Every  moment  thinlj  steadily  as  a  Roman  and  a 
man,  to  do  what  thou  hast  in  hand  with  perfect  and 
simple  dignity,— in  aflection,  in  freedom  and  in  jus- 
tice.—BooU  II,  5.* 

JANUARY  2. 

How  few  the  things  are  which  a  man  need  lay  hold 
of,  to  bo  able  to  lead  a  life  which  flows  in  quiet  and  Is 
like  the  life  of  the  Gods.— II,  5. 

JANUARY  3. 

All  that  is  from  the  Gods  is  full  of  Providence.— 
II,  3. 

JANUARY  4. 

Do  every  act  of  this  life  as  If  it  were  the  last,  lay- 
ing asido  all  carelessness,  aversion  to  the  commands  of 
reason,  hypocrisy,  solf-love,  and  discontent.— II,  5. 


*  The  references  are  to  the  Book  and  the  Section  of  "  The 
Thoughts  of  the  Emperor  M.  Aurelius  Antoninus,'-  trans- 
lated by  George  Long:  London,  George  Bell  &  Sons,  1885, 
from  which  the  -selections  have  been  taken,  with  very 
slight  changes. 


4  THOUGHTS  OF  THE 

JANUARY  5. 

Does  thy  soul  reverence  itself,  or  does  it  place  its 
felicity  in  the  souls  of  others?— II,  6. 

JANUARY  6. 

Do  wrong  to  thyself,  do  wrong  to  thyself,  my  soul, 
but  thou  wilt  have  no  longer  the  opportunity  to  honor 
thyself.— II,  6. 

JANUARY  7. 

Do  tho  things  external  which  fall  upon  thee,  dis- 
tract then?— II,  7. 

JANUARY  8. 

If  a  man  loofes  it,  death  as  it  is  in  Itself,  and  by 
reflecting  resolves  all  the  things  which  occur  to  tho 
imagination  into  their  parts,  he  will  consider  it  nothing 
but  an  operation  of  nature.— II,  12. 

JANUARY  9. 
Every  man's  lifo  is  sufficient.— II,  6. 

JANUARY  10. 

Reverence  for  the  inner  spirit  of  a  man  consists  in 
keeping  it  pure  from  passion,  from  thoughtlessness 
and  from  dissatisfaction  with  whatever  comes  from 
Uods  and  men.— II,  13. 

JANUARY   11. 

Things  from  men  should  be  dear  to  us  by  reason 
of  their  kinship.— II,  13. 

JANUARY    12. 

Things  from  the  gods  merit  veneration  for  their 
excellence.— II,  13. 

JANUARY   13. 

As  men's  ignorance  of  good  and  bad^  is  no  loss  a 
defect  than  the  deprivation  of  the  power  to  distinguish 
blaclt  from  white,  it  should  move  us  to  pity.— II,  13. 


EMPEROR  MARCUS   AURELUUS. 


JANUARY    14. 

The  present  is  the  only  thing  which  a  man  can  lose, 
for  it  is  the  only  thing  which  he  has.— II,  14. 


JANUARY    15. 

Though  thou  shouldest,  be  going  to  live  three  thou- 
sand years,  and  as  many  times  ten  thousand  years, 
still  remember  that  no  man  loses  any  other  life  than 
that  he  now  lives,  nor  lives  any  other  life  than  this 
he  now  loses.— II,  14. 

JANUARY    16. 

The  soul  of  a  man  does  violence  to  itself  when  it  is 
vexed  with  anything,  which  is  itself  a  separation  from 
nature.  When  it  turns  away  from  any  man  or  turns 
toward  him  with  anger,  when  it  is  overpowered  by 
pleasure  or  pain,  when  it  plays  a  part,  or  says  or  does 
something  insincere  or  untrue, — when  it  allows  any 
act  to  be  .without  an  aim  and  thoughtless.— II,  10. 

JANUARY    17. 

To  keep  the  spirit,  free  and  pure  within,  one  must 
riot  feel  the  need  ol  another  man's  doing  or  not  doing. 
—  II,  17. 

JANUARY    18. 

To  keep  the  spirit  pure  within,  a  man  must  do 
nothing  without  a  purpose,  nor  yet  falsely  and  with 
hypocrisy.— II,  17. 

JANUARY    19. 

Of  human  life  the  time  is  a  point,  and  the  substance 
Is  in  a  flux,  the  perception  is  dull,  the  whole  body 
subject  to  putrefaction,  and  the  soul  a  whirl,  and 
fortune  hard  to  divine,  and  fame  a  thing  devoid  of 
judgment.— II,  17. 


I/ 


6  THOUGHTS  OF  THE 

JANUARY    20. 

What  Is  able  to  conduct  a  man?  One  thing  and 
only  one,— Philosophy.— II,  17. 

JANUARY   21. 

Kortp  t.ho  spirit  within  thee  superior  to  pains  and 
pleasures. — II,  17. 

JANUARY    22. 

Accept,  all  that  is  allotted,  as  coming  from  the  same 
source  as  thyself,  and  wait  for  death  with  a  cheerful 
mind. -II,  17. 

JANUARY    23. 

If  a  man  should  have  a  feeling,  and  a  deeper  insight 
with  respect  to  the  things  produced  in  the  Universe, 
there  is  hardly  one  of  those  which  follow  by  way  of 
consequence  which  will  not  seem  to  him  disposed  In 
such  a  manner  as  to  give  pleasure,— the  ears  of  corn 
bending  down,  the  lion's  eyebrows,  the  foam  which 
(lows  from  the  mouth  of  wild  beasts— all  these  are  con- 
sequent, on  the  things  that  are  formed  by  nature  and 
help  to  adorn  them  and  please  the  mind.— Ill,  -2. 

JANUARY    24. 

To  die  and  depart  from  among  men.  if  there  are 
gods,  is  not  a  thing  to  be  afraid  of;  for  the  gods  will 
not  Involve  thee  In  evil.— II,  II. 

JANUARY    25. 

Since  it  is  possible  that  thou  mayest  depart  from 
life  this  very  moment,  regulate  every  act  and  thought 
accordingly. — 11,  11. 

JANUARY    26. 

This  thou  must  always  bear  in  mind— What  Is  the 
nature  of  the  whole?  and  what  is  my  nature?  How 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AUREIAUS.  7 

is  my  nature  related  to  the  nature  of  the  whole?  and 
what  kind  of  a  part  is  It  of  what  kind  of  a  whole?— 

II,  9. 

JANUARY   27. 

Give  thyself  time  to  learn  something  new  and  good, 
and  cease  to  be  whirled  around.— II,  7. 

JANUARY   28. 

Many  things  will  present  themselves  as  pleasing  to 
the  man  who  has  become  truly  familiar  with  nature 
and  her  work,  which  other  men  will  miss,— he  will 
see  the  real  gaping  jaws  of  wild  beasts  with  no  less 
pleasure  than  painters  and  sculptors  feel,  and  he  will 
see  comeliness  in  an  old  woman  and  an  old  man.— 

III.  2. 

JANUARY    29. 

Thou  hast  embarked— thou  hast  made  the  voyage— 
thou  hast  come  to  shore— get  out.  If  to  another  life, 
there  is  no  want  of  gods  there— 4f  to  a  state  without 
sensation,  thou  will  cease  to  be  held  by  pains  and 
pleasures  and  to  be  a  slave  to  earth  and  corruption. 
-Ill,  3. 

JANUARY   30. 

/"  Do  not  wibSt.e  your  life  in  thoughts  about  others 
/unless  thy  thoughts  refer  to  some  object  of  common 
j  utility. —Ill,  4. 

JANUARY    31. 

It  Is  the  part  of  the  intellectual  faculty  to  observe 
who  those  are  whose  opinions  and  voices  give  reputa- 
tion.—II,  12. 

FEBRUARY    1. 

A  man  should  use  himself  to  think  of  those  things 
only,  about  which,  If  one  should  suddenly  ask,  "What 
hast  r.hpu  in  thy  thoughts  ?"  he  could  answer  with  per- 
fect openness,  so  that  it  would  be  plain  that  every- 


8  THOUGHTS   OF  THE 

thing  in  him  was  simple  and  kind,  without  rivalry, 
envy,  suspicion  or  anything  for  which  he  should  blush. 
—Ill,  4. 

FEBRUARY    2. 

A  man  who  delays  not  to  be  among  the  best  is  like 
a  priest  and  minister  of  the  Gods— using  the  deity 
planted  within  him,  which  makes  him  uncontaminated 
by  pleasuie,  unharmed  by  pain,  untouched  by  Insult, 
a  fighter  in  the  noblest  fight,  not  overpowered  by  any 
passion,  deep-dyed  with  justice  and  accepting  with  his 
soul  all  that  happens  and  is  his  portion.— III.  4. 

FEBRUARY    3. 

A  man  should  constantly  think  of  that  which  is  al 
lotted  to  him  out  of  the  sum  total  of  things ;  and  that 
he  must  make  his  own  acts  fair  and  be  persuaded  that 
his  own  portion  is  good;  for  the  lot  assigned  to  each 
man  is  both  carried  along  with  him  and  carries  him 
with  It.— Ill,  4. 

FEBRUARY    4. 

A  man  should  remember  that  every  rational  crea- 
ture is  his  kino  man,  and  that  to  care  for  all  men  is  ac- 
cording to  man's  nature.— Ill,  4. 

FEBRUARY    5. 

If  a  man  bears  in  mind  what  kind  of  men  those  are 
who  do  not  live  according  to  nature,  and  looks  ai 
what  they  are  at  home  and  abroad  by  night  and  day, 
and  with  what  men  they  lead  an  Impure  life,  he  cannot 
value  their  praise.  They  are  not  even  satisfied  with 
themselves.— Ill,  4. 

FEBRUARY    6. 

Labor  not  unwillingly,  nor  without  regard  for  the 
common  interest,  nor  without  due  consideration,  nor 
with  distraction.— Ill, "5. 

FEBRUARY    7. 

Be  cheerful  and  seek  not  eternal  help,  nor  the  tran 
quillity  which  others  give.— Ill,  5. 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AURELiUS.  9 

FEBRUARY    8. 

A  man  must  stand  erect  and  nor,  be  kept  erect  by    ' 
others.— Ill,  5. 

FEBRUARY    9. 

Let  not  studied  ornament  set  off  thy  thoughts,  and 
be  not  either  a  man  of  many  words  nor  busied  about 
too  many  things  —III,  5. 

FEBRUARY    10. 

Let  the  deity  within  thee  be  the  guardian  of  a  living 
being,  manly  and  of  ripe  age,  engaged  in  matters  po 
litical,  a  citizen  and  ruler  who  takes  his  post,  like  a 
man  waiting  for  a  signal.— Ill,  5. 

FEBRUARY    11. 

If  thou  tindest  in  human  life  anything  better  than 
justice,  truth,  temperance,  fortitude,  turn  to  it  and 
enjoy  what  thou  hast  found  to  be  best,  only  take  care 
to  make  the  Inquiry  by  a  sure  method.— Ill,  6. 

FEBRUARY   12. 

If  nothing  appears  better  to  thee  than  the  deity 
pianted  within  thee  and  which,  as  Socrates  says,  has 
detached  itself  from  the  persuasions  of  sense  and  has 
submitted  Itself  to  the  gods  and  cares  for  mankind,  11 
thou  findest  everything  else  smaller  and  of  less  value, 
then  give  place  to  nothing  else.— Ill,  6. 

FEBRUARY   13. 

It  is  not  right  that  such  things  as  praise  from  the 
many,  power,  or  enjoyment  of  pleasure  should  corny 
into  competition  with  what  is  rationally  and  prac- 
tically good.— Ill,  6. 

FEBRUARY   14. 

He  who  has  preferred  to  everything  else  the  spirit 
within  him  and  the  worship  of  its  excellence,  acts  no 
tragic  part,  does  not  groan,  will  not  need  either  soli- 


\ 


10  THOUGHTS   OF  THE 

tude  or  company  and  will  live  without  cither  pursuing 
or  flying  from  death.— Ill,  7. 

FEBRUARY    15. 

Never  value  anything  as  profitable  to  thyself  which 
shall  compel  thee  to  break  thy  promise,  to  lose  thy 
self-respect,  to  hate,  to  suspect,  to  curse,  to  act  the 
hypocrite  or  do  anything  which  needs  walls  and  cur- 
tains.—Ill,  7. 

FEBRUARY   16. 

Simply  and  freely  choose  the  better  and  hold  to  it. 
Ill,  6. 

FEBRUARY   17. 

A  man  must  take  care  of  this  only  all  through  life, 
that  his  thoughts  turn  not  away  from  anything  which 
belongs  to  an  intelligent  being  and  a  member  of  a 
civil  community.  Then,  if  his  soul  is  inclosed  for  a 
longer  or  for  a  shorter  time  in  the  body,  he  cares  not 
at  all.— Ill,  7. 

FEBRUARY   18 

Reverence  the  faculty  which  produces  opinion. 
On  this  It  depends  whether  thou  shalt  be  ruled  by 
opinion  inconsistent  with  the  nature  of  man  and  with 
the  constitution  of  tha  rational  being.— Ill,  9. 

FEBRUARY   19. 

The  faculty  which  produces  opinion  promises  free- 
dom from  hasty  judgments,  friendship  toward  men 
and  obedience  to  the  gods.— Ill,  9. 

FEBRUARY  20. 

Bear  in  mind  that  every  man  lives  only  this  present 
time,  which  is  an  indivisible  point,  and  that  all  tho 
rest  of  his  life  is  either  past  or  uncertain.— Ill,  10. 

FEBRUARY  21. 

Throwing  away  many  things,  hold  to  fhese  only 
which  are  few.— ITT,  10. 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AURELIUS.  11 

FEBRUARY   22. 

Make  for  thyself  a  definition  or  description  of  the 
thing  presented  to  thee,  so  as  to  see  distinctly  what 
kind  of  a  thing  it  is  in  its  substance,  in  its  nudity,  in 
its  complete  entirety  ;  and  tell  thyself  its  pioper  name, 
and  the  names  of  the  things  of  which  it  is  compounded, 
and  into  which  it  will  be  resolved.— Ill,  11. 

FEBRUARY  23. 

Nothing  is  so  productive  of  elevation  of  mind  as  to 
be  able  to  examine  methodically  and  truly  every  ob- 
ject which  is  presented  to  thee  in  life,  and  to  look  at 
each  thing  so  as  to  see  what  it  is  in  itself,  what  kind 
of  a  use  it  performs  in  the  world  and  whai  value  it  has 
with  reference  to  man.— Ill,  11. 

FEBRUARY   24. 

How  long  is  il  the  nature  of  this  thing  to  endure, 
which  now  makes  an  impression  on  me,  and  what 
special  virtue  do  I  need  with  respect  to  it,  such  as 
gentleness,  truth,  fidelity,  simplicity,  contentment  and 
the  rest?— Ill,  11. 

FEBRUARY   25. 

On  every  occasion  a  man  should  say — "  This  thing 
comes  from  God— this  from  the  spinning  of  the  thread 
of  destiny — and  this  from  a  kinsnaan  of  the  same  stock, 
who  does  not  know,  however,  what  is  according  to 
nature— but  I  know  and  for  this  reason  must  behave 
toward  him  according  to  the  natural  law  of  fellowship, 
with  benevolence  and  justice."— Ill,  11. 

FEBRUARY   26. 

If  thou  workest  at  that  which  is  before  thee,  fol- 
lowing right  reason  calmly,  vigorously,  allowing  noth- 
ing to  distract  thee,  but  keeping  thy  divine  part  pure, 
although  bound  to,  give  it  back  immediately— if  thou 


12  THOUGHTS   OP  THE 

boldest  to  this,  expecting  nothing,  fearing  nothing, 
and  with  heroic  truth  in  every  word  and  sound  which 
thou  utterest,  thou  wilt,  live  happy — and  there  Is  no 
man  able  to  prevent  this.— Til,  12. 

FEBRUARY  27. 

Thou  wilt  never  do  anything  well  which  pertains  to 
man,  without  having  reference  both  to  things  divine 
and  to  things  human.— Ill,  13. 

FEBRUARY  28. 

As  physicians  always  have  their  instruments  ready 
for  cases  which  suddenly  require  their  skill,  so  do  thou 
have  principles  ready  for  understanding  things  divine 
and  human,  and  for  doing  even  the  smallest  Things 
with  a  recollection  of  the  bond  which  unites  the 
divine  and  human.— Ill,  13. 

MARCH  1. 
No  longer  wonder  at  hazard.— Ill,  14. 

MARCH  2. 

It  takes  another  kind  of  vision  than  that  of  the 
eyes  merely  to  know  how  many  things  are  signified 
by  the  words  stealing,  sowing,  buying,  keeping  quiet, 
and  seeing  what  ought  to  be  done.— Ill,  15. 

MARCH  3. 

To  the  body  belong  sensations— to  the  soul,  appe- 
tites—and to  the  intelligence,  principles.— Ill,  16. 

MARCH  4. 

To  be  pulled  by  the  strings  of  desire,  belongs  in 
common  to  wild  beasts  and  men,  and  to  have  intelli- 
gence for  what  appears  merely  suitable,  belongs  to 
those  who  believe  not  in  the  gods.— Ill,  16. 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AUREIilUB.  13 

MARCH   5. 

Out  of  all  the  things  common  to  humanity,  it  is 
peculiar  to  the  good  man  to  be  content  with  the  thread 
spun  for  him,  and  not  to  defile  the  divinity  implanted 
in  his  breast;  but  to  preserve  it  tranquil,  not  speak- 
ing contrary  to  truth,  nor  acting  contrary  to  justice. 
—Ill,  16. 

MARCH  6. 

A  man  should  come  to  the  end  of  his  life,  pure, 
tranquil  and  ready  to  depart.— III.  16. 

MARCH   7. 

Man  when  ruled  within  according  to  nature  makes 
material  for  himself  out  of  that  which  opposes,  as  rire 
lays  hold  of  what  falls  into  it,  consuming  it  and  rais- 
ing higher  by  means  of  this  very  material.— IV,  1. 

MARCH   8. 
Let  no  act  be  done  without  a  purpose. — IV,  2. 

MARCH  9. 

Men  seek  retreats  in  the  country,  sea-shores  and 
mountains — and  thou  too  art  wont  to  desire  such 
things.  But  this  is  a  mark  of  the  most  ordinary  man, 
for  it  is  In  thy  power,  wherever  thou  art,  to  retire 
into  thyself.— IV,  3. 

MARCH  10. 

Nowhere  can  a  man  retire  with  more  quiet  and 
freedom  from  trouble  than  within  his  own  soul.— IV,  3. 

MARCH  11. 

With  what  art  thou  discontented?  With  the  bad 
ness  of  men?  Recall  lo  mind  that  rational  beings 
exist  for  one  another,  and  that  to  endure  Is  a  part  of 
justice,  and  that  mw  do  wrong  Involuntarily.— IV.  3. 


14  THOUGHTS   OF  THE 

MARCH  12. 

Art  thou  dissatisfied  with  what  Is  assigned  thee  out 
of  the  universe?  Recall  to  thy  recollection  this  al- 
ternative—either there  is  providence,  or  a  fortuitous 
concurrence  of  atoms.— IV,  3. 

MARCH  13. 

Do  corporeal  things  fasten  upon  thee?  Consider 
that  the  mind  mingles  not  with  the  breath,  whether 
Hie  breath  moves  gently  or  violently,  when  the  mind 
has  once  drawn  itself  apart  and  discovered  its  own 
power.— IV,  3. 

MARCH  14. 

The  whole  earth  is  a  point,  and  how  Small  a  nook 
is  this  thy  dwelling,  and  what  kind  of  pe«)ple  are  they 
who  praise  thee.— IV,  3. 

MARCH   15. 

This  then  remains — remember  to  retire  into  this 
little  territory  of  thy  own.  and  above  all.  do  not  dis- 
tract or  strain  thyself,  but  be  free— look  at  things  as  a 
man— as  a  human  being,— as  a  citizen,  and  as  a  mortal. 
-IV,  3. 

MARCH  16. 

Among  the  things  readiest  at  hand  turn  to  these 
two :  one  is  that  things  do  not  touch  the  soul,  for  t.hey 
are  external  and  remain  immovable;  the  other  is  that 
all  these  tilings  which  thou  seest,  change  shortly  and 
will  no  longer  be. — IV.  3. 

MARCH  17. 

Bear  in  mind  how  many  changes  thou  hast  wit- 
nessed. The  universe  is  transformation  and  life  is 
opinion.— IV,  3 

MARCH  18. 

Ic  is  natural  that  such  things  should  be  done  by 
such  pel-sons— it  ie>  a  matter  of  necessity,  and  if  a  man 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AUREL1US.  15 

will  not  have  It  so,  he  will  not  allow  the   fig-tree  to 
nave  juice.— IV.   6. 

MARCH  19. 

Take  away  thy  opinion  and  there  is  taken  away  the 
complaint  "1  am  harmed."  Take  away  the  complaint, 
"I  have  been  haimed"  and  the  harm  has  been  taken 
away.— IV,  7. 

MARCH  20. 

Allow  thyself  a  retreat  into  thyself,  and  renew  thy- 
self.—IV,  3. 

MARCH  21. 

That  which  does  not  make  the  man  worse  than  ho 
was,  does  not  make  his  life  worse,  nor  does  it  carm 
him  without  or  within.— IV,  8. 

MARCH  22. 

If  thou  observest  carefully  thou  wilt  find  that  every- 
thing that  happens,  happens  justly.— IV,  10. 

MARCH  23. 

Do  not  have  the  opinion  of  tbfngs  which  he  has, 
who  has  done  you  wrong,  nor  those  which  he  wishes 
you  to  have— but  look  at  things  as  they  are  in  truth.— 
IV,  11. 

MARCH  24. 

A  man  should  always  have  these  two  rules  in 
readiness— the  one  to  do  only  what  the  ruling  faculty 
may  suggest  for  the  use  of  men— the  other  to  change 
his  opinion  if  there  is  any  one  to  set  him  right.— IV,  12. 

MARCH  25. 

A  man's  change  of  opinion  must  proceed  from  a 
persuasion  of  what  Is  just  or  of  common  advantage, 
and  not  because  it  appears  pleasant  or  brings  reputa- 
tion.—IV,  12. 


16  THOUGHTS    OF  THE 

MARCH  26. 

Hast  thou  reason?—!  have.  Why  then  dost  thou 
not  use  it?  For  if  this  does  its  own  work  what  else 
dost  thou  wish?— IV,  13. 

MARCH  27. 

Thou  hast  existed  as  a  part.  Shalt  thou  disappear 
into  that  which  produced  thee?  Say  rather,  thou 
Shalt  be  received  bach  into  its  seminal  principle  by 
transmutation.— IV,  14. 

MARCHES. 

Do  not  act  as  if  thou  wert  to  live  ten  thousand 
years.  Death  hangs  over  thee.  While  thou  livest, 
and  it  is  in  thy  power,  be  good.— IVa  17. 

MARCH  29. 

Look  not  around  at  the  depraved  morals  of  others, 
but  run  straight  along  the  line,  and  look  that  what 
rhou  doest,  is  just  and  pure.— IV,  16. 

MARCH  30. 

Everything  which  is  in  any  way  beautiful,  is  beauti- 
ful in  itself,  and  terminates  in  itself,  not  having  praise 
as  part  of  itself.  NVhat  thing  is  beautiful  because  it 
is  praised,  or  spoiled  because  it  is  not?— IV,  20. 

MARCH  31. 

Is  an  emerald  made  worse  if  it  is  not  praised,  or 
gold,  or  ivory,  or  purple,  or  a  lyre?— IV,  20. 

APRIL,   1. 

Do  not  be  whirled  about,  but  in  every  movement 
have  respect  to  Justice ;  and  on  the  occasion  of  every 
impression  maintain  the  faculty  of  compreheneton. 

-IV,    22. 

APRIL   2. 

Everything  harmonizes  with  nio  which  is  harmoni- 
ous to  thee,  Oh  Universe.  Everything  is  fruit  to  me 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AURELiUS.  17 

which  thy  seasons  bring.  Ob  Nature,  from  thee  are 
all  things,  in  thee  are  all  things,  to  thee  all  things 
return.  The  poet  says,  "  Dear  city  of  Cccrops" ;  and 
wilt  thou  not  say,  "  Dear  city  of  Zeus  ?"— IV,  23. 

APRIL,   3. 

A  man  should  take  away  not  only  unnecessary  acts, 
but  unnecessary  thoughts,  so  that  superfluous  acts  will 
not  follow  after.— IV,  24. 

APRIL   4. 

The  greatest  part  of  what  we  do  and  say  being  un- 
necessary, if  a  man  takes  this  away,  he  will  have  more 
leisure  and  less  uneasiness.— IV,  24. 

APRIL   5. 
Make  thyself  all  simplicity.— IV.  26. 

APRIL   6. 

Does  anyone  do  wrong  ?     It  is  1,0  himself  he  does 
-wrong.      Does  anything  happen  to  thee?      Out  of  the 
Universe  from  the  beginning,  everything  that  happens 
has  been  apportioned  and  spun  out  to  thee.— IV,  26. 

APRIL   7. 

Either  this  is  a  well  arranged  universe  or  a  chaos 
huddled  together.  But  can  a  certain  order  subsist  in 
thee  and  disorder  in  the  All  ?  And  this  too  when  all 
things  are  so  separated  and  diffused  and  sympathetic. 
-IV,  27. 

APRIL   8. 

He  is  a  runaway  who  flies  from  social  reason— he  is 
blind  who  shuts  the  eyes  of  the  understanding— he  Is 
poor  who  has  need  of  another,  and  lias  not  from  him- 
self all  things  useful  for  life.— IV,  29. 


\ 


IS  THOUGHTS    OF  THE 

APRIL    9. 

Love  the  art,  poor  as  it  may  be,  which  thou  hast 
learned,  and  be  content  with  it ;  and  pass  through  the 
rest  of  life  like  one  who  has  intrusted  to  the  gods  with 
his  whole  soul  all  that  ho  has,  making  thyself  neither 
the  tyrant  nor  the  slave  of  any  man.— IV,  31. 

APRIL  10. 

It  is  necessary  to  remember  that  the  attention  given 
to  everything  has  its  proper  value  and  proportion. 
Thus  thou  wilt  not  be  dissatisfied  if  thou  applyest  thy- 
self to  smaller  matters  no  further  than  is  fit.— IV,  32. 

APRIL  ll. 

What  is  that  about  which  we  should  employ  our 
serious  pains?  This  one  thing— thoughts  just,  and 
acts  social,  and  words  which  never  lie,  and  a  disposi- 
tion gladly  accepting  all  that  happens.— IV,  33. 

APRIL   12. 

Observe  constantly  that  all  things  take  place  by 
change,  and  accustom  thyself  to  consider  that  the 
nature  of  the  universe  loves  nothing  so  much  as  to 
change  the  things  which  are,  and  make  new  things 
like  them.—  IV,  36. 

APRIL  13. 

Everything  which  exists  is  In  a  manner  the  seed  of 
that  which  will  be.— IV,  36. 

APRIL   14. 

Thou  wilt  soon  die,  and  thou  art  not  yet  simple  nor 
free  from  perturbations,  nor  without  suspicion  of  be- 
ing hurt  by  external  things,  nor  Mndly  disposed  to 
all,  nor  dost  thou  yet  place  wisdom  only  in  acting 
justly.— IV,  37. 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AURELJUS.  19 

APRIL    15. 

Examine  men's  ruling  principles,  even  those  of  the 
wise— what  luncl  of  things  they  avoid,  and  what  kind 
they  pursue.— IV,  38. 

APRIL   16. 

Constantly  regard  the  Universe  as  one  living  being, 
having  one  substance  and  one  soul— and  how  all  things 
are  the  co-operating  causes  of  all  things  which  exist. 
Observe  too  the  continuous  spinning  of  the  thread  and 
the  contexture  of  the  web.— IV,  40. 

APRIL   17. 
It  is  no  evil  for  things  to  undergo  change.— IV,  42. 

APRIL  18. 

Time  is  a  river  made  up  of  the  events  which  happen  ; 
and  is  a  violent  stream.  As  soon  as  a  thing  is  seen, 
it  is  carried  away  and  another  comes  in  its  place,  and 
this  will  be  carried  away  too.— IV,  43. 

APRIL  19. 

In  the  series  of  things,  those  which  follow  are  al- 
ways aptly  fitted  to  those  which  nave  gone  before. — 
IV,  45. 

APRIL  20. 

Things  which  come  into  existence  exhibit  no  mere 
succession  but  a  certain  wonderful  relationship. — IV, 
45. 

APRIL   21. 

Pass  through  the  little  space  of  time  of  thy  life  con- 
formably to  nature,  and  end  thy  journey  In  content, 
just  as  an  olive  falls  olf  when  it  is  ripe,  blessing  na- 
ture who  produced  it  and  the  tree  on  which  it  grew. 
IV,  48. 


20  THOUGHTS   OF  THE 

APRIL   22. 

Remember  on  every  occasion  which  leads  thee  to 
vexation,  to  apply  this  principle— not  that  this  is  a 
misfortune,  but  that  to  bear  it  nobly  is  good  fortune. 
IV,  49. 

APRIL  23. 

Will  what  has  just  happened  to  thee  prevent  thee 
from  being  just,  magnanimous,  temperate,  prudent, 
true— will  it  prevent  thee  from  having  modesty,  free- 
dom and  everything  by  the  presence  of  which  man's 
nature  obtains  all  that  is  his  own?— IV,  49. 

APRIL  24. 

Unhappy  am  I  because  this  has  happened  to  me  ? 
Not  so,  but  happy  am  I  because  I  can  bear  it,  nobly. 
-IV,  49. 

APRIL  25. 

Be  like  the  promontory  against  which  the  waves 
continually  break;  but  it  stands  firm  and  tames  the 
fury  of  the  waters  around  it.— IV.  49. 

APRIL  26. 

In  the  morning  when  thou  risest  unwillingly,  let  this 
thought  be  present— I  am  rising  to  the  work  of  a 
human  being.— V,  1. 

APRIL  27. 

Why  am  I  dissatisfied  if  I  am  going  to  do  the  things 
for  which  I  exist,  and  for  which  I  was  brought  into 
the  world  ?— V,  1. 

APRIL  28. 

Have  I  been  made  to  lie  in  the  bed-clothes  and 
keep  myself  warm  ?  Dost  thou  not  see  the  little 
plants,  the  little  birds,  the  ants,  spiders,  bees  working 
together  to  put  in  order  their  parts  of  the  Universe 
—and  art  thou  unwilling  to  do  thy  part— the  work  of 
a  human  being?— V,  1. 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AUREIdUS.  21 

APRIL   29. 

Nature  has  fixed  bounds  both  to  eating  and  drinking 
and  sleeping,  and  yet  thou  goest  beyond  what  is  suffi- 
cient. Yet  in  thy  acts  it  is  not  so.  Thou  stoppest 
short  of  what  thou  canst  do.— V,  1. 

APRIL  30. 

It  is  easy  to  repel  and  wipe  away  every  impression 
which  is  troublesome  or  unsuitable,  and  immediately 
to  be  in  all  tranquillity.— V,  2. 

MAY   1. 

If  a  thing  is  good  to  be  done  or  said,  do  not  consider 
it  unworthy  of  thee,  and  be  not  diverted  by  the  blame 
which  may  IollowT.  Others  have  their  peculiar  lead- 
ing principles  and  follow  them.  Thou  art  to  follow 
thy  own  nature  and  the  common  nature— and  the  way 
of  both  is  one.— V,  3. 

MAY   2. 

k  Thou  sayest  "  Men  cannot  admire  the  sharpness  of 
my  wits."  Be  it  so  but  there  are  many  other  qual- 
ities of  which  thou  cannot  say  '"  I  am  not  fitted  for 
them  by  nature.  Show  those  in  thy  power,  sincerity, 
endurance,  contentment,  benevolence,  frankness,  mag- 
nanimity.— V,  5. 

MAY   3. 

Art  thou  compelled  through  beJrg  <lJ-ftunJshed  by 
nature,  to  be  stingy  and  flatter  and  find  fault  with  thy 
poor  body,  and  to  try  to  please  men  and  to  be  restless 
in  thy  mind?  No— by  the  Gods— thou  mightest  have 
been  delivered  from  these  things  long  ago.— V,  5. 

MAY   4. 

Dost  thou  not  see  how  many  qualities  thou  art  im- 
mediately able  to  exhibit,  for  which  thou  canst  not, 
claim  natural  incapacity,  or  unfitness  ?  Yet  thou  still 
voluntarily  remainest  below  the  mark.— V,  5. 


22  THOUGHTS   OF  THE 

MAY   5. 

If  in  ti-uth  thou  canst  be  charged  with  being  rather 
slow  and  dull  of  comprehension,  thou  must  exert  thy- 
self about  this  also— not  neglecting  it,  nor  yet  taking 
pleasure  in  thy  dulness. — V,  5. 

MAY   6. 

One  man,  when  he  has  done  a  service  to  another. 
is  ready  to  set  it  down  to  his  account  as  a  favor  con- 
ferred. Another  is  not  ready  to  do  this,  but  still,  in 
his  own  mind,  he  thinks  of  the  man  as  his  debtor,  and 
he  knows  what  ho  has  done.  A  third,  In  a  manner, 
does  not  even  know  what  he  has  done,  but  is  like  a 
vine  which  has  produced  grapes  and  seeks  for  nothing 
more,  after  it  has  once  produced  its  proper  fruit.— 
V,  6. 

MAY   7. 

A  prayer  of  the  Athenians—"  Rain,  rain,  oh.  dear 
Zeus,  down  on  the  ploughed  fields  of  the  Athenians  and 
on  the  plains."  In  truth  we  ought  to  pray  not  at  all, 
or  in  this  noble  and  simple  fashion.— V,  7. 

MAY   8. 

When  wo  say  things  are  suitable  to  us,  wo  mean  it 
as  the  workmen  say  of  squared  stones  or  walls  in  the 
pyramids,  that  they  are  suitable  where  they  fit  them 
to  one  another  in  some  kind  of  connection.— V,  8. 

MAY  9. 

Do  not  bo  disgusted  nor  discouraged,  nor  dissatis- 
fied, if  thou  dost  not  succeed  in  doing  everything  ac- 
cording to  right  principles. — V,  9. 

MAY   10. 

When  thou  hast  failed,  return  back  again,  and  bo 
content  if  the  greater  part  which  thou  doest  is  con- 


EMPEROR,  MARCUS  AURELiUS.  23 

sistent  with  man's  nature,  and  love  this  to  which  thou 
retui-nest.— V,  9. 

MAY  11. 

Remember  that  philosophy  requires  only  the  things 
which  thy  nature  requires— but  thou  wouldest  have 
something  else  which  is  not  according  to  nature.— V, 
9. 

MAY  12. 

He  who  has  not  one  and  always  the  same  object  in 
life  cannot  be  one  and  the  same  all  through  his  life.— 
XI,  21. 

MAY  13. 

About  what  am  I  now  employing  my  own  soul  ? — 
V,  11. 

MAY  14. 

Whose  soul  have  I  now?  That  of  a  child?  of  a 
young  man?  or  of  a  feeble  woman?  or  of  a  tyrant?  or 
of  a  domestic  animal?  or  of  a  wild  beast?— V,  11. 

MAY  15. 

If  a  man  should  conceive  certain  things  as  being 
really  good,  such  as  prudence,  temperance,  justice, 
fortitude,  he  would  not  after  once  conceiving  these, 
endure  to  listen  to  any  other.— V,  12. 

MAY  16. 

No  part  of  me  will  perish  into  non-existence,  as  no 
part  of  me  can  come  into  existence  out  of  non-exist 
ence.— V,  13. 

MAY  17. 

Every  part  of  me  will  be  reduced  by  some  change 
into  some  part  of  the  universe,  and  that  again  will 
change  into  another  part  of  the  universe,  and  so  on 
forever.— V,  13. 


24  THOUGHTS   OF  THE 

MAY  18. 

By  consequence  of  change,  I  exist,  and  those  who 
begot  me,  and  so  on  forever— in  the  other  direction. 
-V,  13.  ;  |]  J 

MAY  19. 

None  of  those  things  ought  to  be  called  a  man's, 
which  do  not  belong  to  him  as  man.  The  more  of 
such  things  a  man  deprives  himself  of,  or  the  more  he 
is  deprived  of  any  of  them,  and  the  more  patiently 
he  endures  it,  just  in  the  same  degree  is  he  a  better 
u«an.— V,  15. 

MAY  20. 

Such  as  are  thy  habitual  thoughts,  such  also  will  be 
the  character  of  tty  mind;  for  the  soul  is  dyod  by  the 
thoughts.  Dye  it  then  with  a  continuous  series  of 
such  thoughts  as  these— that  where  a  man  can  live, 
he  can  live  well— but  he  must  live  in  a  palace— well 
then,  he  can  live  well  in  a  palace.— V,  16. 

MAY  21. 

To  seek  what  Is  impossible,  is  madness  ;  and  it  is 
impossible  that  the  bad  should  not  do  sometiiing  of 
this  kind.— V,  17. 

MAY  22. 

Nothing  happens  to  any  man  which  he  is  not  formed 
by  nature  to  bear.— V,  18. 

MAY  23. 

Something  happens  to  a  man ;  and  either  because  he 
does  not  see  that  it  has  happened,  or  because  he  would 
show  a  great  spirit,  he  remains  firm  and  bears  it  well. 
It  is  a  shame  that  ignorance  and  conceit  should  be 
stronger  than  wisdom.— V,  18. 

MAY  24. 
Things  themselves  touch  not  the  soul,  not  In  the 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AURELiUS.  25 

least   degree— nor   have   they    admission   to   the   soul,     / 
nor  can  they  turn  the  soul  nor  move  the  soul.— V,  19.     I 

MAY  25. 

The  soul  turns  and  moves  itself  alone,  and  wha* 
ever  judgments  it  may  think  proper  to  make,  such  it 
makes  for  itself  upon  the  things  which  present  them- 
selves to  it.— V,  19. 

MAY  26. 

A  man  may  impede  my  actions  but  he  cannot  Im- 
pede my  affects  and  disyosition.--V,  20. 

MAY  27. 

Reverence  that  which  is  best  in  the  universe— and 
in  like  manner  reverence  that  whifh  is  best  in  thyself;       / 
and  this  is  of  the  same  kind  as  that.—  V,  21. 

MAY  28. 

Consider  this  which  is  near  to  thee  ,  this  bjnndless 
abyss  of  the  past  and  the  future,  in  which  all  things 
disappear.  How  then  is  he  not  a  fool  who  is  puffed 
up  by  such  things,  01  plagued  about  them,  or  makes 
himself  miserable  ?— V,  23. 

MAY  29. 

Does  another  do  me  wrong?  Let  him  look  to  it 
Ho  has  his  own  dispositions,  his  own  activity.  I  now 
have  what  the  universal  nature  wills  me  to  have,  and 
i  do  what  my  nature  wills  me  to  do.  — V,  25. 

MAY   30. 

Live   with  the  Gods.— V,  27.  / 

MAY   31. 

The  intelligence  of  the  Universe  is  social.— V,  :>0. 

JUNE  1. 

Row   hast  thou   behaved   hitherto  to   the   gjds,  thy 


26  THOUGHTS    OF  THE 

parents,  children,  teachers,  friends,  kinsfolk,  servants  ? 
Consider  that  this  might  be  said  of  thee  :  "  Never  has 
he  wronged  a  man  in  deed  or  word." — V,  31. 

JUNE  2. 

Thou  canst  pass  thy  life  in  an  equitable  flow  of  hap- 
piness if  thou  canst  go  the  right  way,  and  think  ana 
act  the  right  way.— V,  34. 

JUNE  3. 

If  this  is  neither  my  own  badness,  nor  the  effects 
of  my  badness ;  and  if  the  common  weal  is  not  in- 
jured, why  am  1  troubled?— V,  35. 

JUNE  4. 

As  my  earthly  part  is  a  portion  given  me  from  cer- 
tain earth,  and  that  which  is  water  from  another  ele- 
ment, and  that  which  is  hot  and  fiery  from  some  other 
source  (for  nothing  c?mas  out  of  that  which  is  nothing, 
as  no  existing  thing  returns  to  non-existence)  so  also 
the  intellectual  part  comes  from  some  source.—  IV,  4. 

JUNE  5.  « 

It  is  one  of  the  acts  of  life,  this  act  of  dying.  It 
is  sufficient  then  in  this  act  also,  to  do  well  what  we 
have  in  hand.— VI,  2. 

JUNE  6. 

Look  wiiliiu.  Let  neither  the  peculiar  quality  of 
anything,  nor  its  value  escape  thee.— VI,  3. 

JUNE  7. 

The  best  way  of  avenging  yourself  Is  not  to  become 
like  that  which  has  wronged  you.— VI,  (>. 

JUNE  8. 

Take  pleasure  in  one  thing,  and  rest  in  it,  in  passing 
from  one  social  act  to  another,  thinking  of  God.— VI,  7. 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AUREU.U6.  27 

JUNE  9. 

When  thou  has  been  compelled  by  circumstances  to 
be  disturbed  in  a  manner,  quickly  return  to  thyself, 
and  do  not  continue  out  of  tune  longer  than  the  com- 
pulsion lasts  ;  for  thou  wilt  have  more  mastery  over 
the  harmony  by  continually  recurring  to  it.— VI.  11. 

JUNE  10. 

Outward  show  is  a  wonderful  perverter  of  the  rea- 
son.— VI.  13. 

JUNE  11. 

When  thou  art  most  sure  thou  art  employed  about 
things  worth  thy  pains,  it  is  then  outward  show  cheats 
thee  most.— VI.  13. 

JUNE  12. 

Some  things  are  hurrying  into  existence  and  others 
are  hurrying  out  of  It,  and  of  that  which  is  coming 
into  existence,  part  is  already  extinguished.— VI,  15. 

JUNE  13. 

Motions  and  changes  are  continually  renewing  the 
world,  just  as  the  uninterrupted  course  of  time  is  al 
ways  renewing  the  infinite  duration  of  ages.— VI,  15. 

JUNE  14. 

In  this  flowing  stream  of  life,,  on  which  there  is  no 
abiding,  what  is  there  of  the  things  which  hurry  by, 
on  which  a  man  would  set  a  high  price  ?— VI,  15. 

JUNE  15. 

Suppose  thou  tiasi:  given  up  this  worthless  thing 
called  fame,  what  remains  that  is  worth  valuing?  In 
my  opinion,  to  develop  thyself  according  to  thy  proper 
constitution— to  which  «t-d  all  employments  and  art? 
lead.  For  every  art  aims  at  this— that  the  thing  which 
has  been  made,  should  be  adapted  to  the  work  for 
which  it  has  been  made.— VI,  16. 


28  THOUGHTS    OF   THE 

JUNE  16. 

A  man  must  be  in  a  state  of  perturbation  who  wants 
ihings  ;  and  besides  must  often  find  fault  with  the  gods. 
-VI,  16. 

JUNE  17. 

If  thou  wilt  not  cease  to  value  many  things,  thou 
wilt  be  neither  free  nor  sufficient  for  thy  own  happi- 
ness, nor  without  passion— for  of  necessity  thou  wilt 
be  envious  and  jealous  and  suspicious  of  those  who 
<:an  take  away  those  things,  and  plot  against  those 
wno  possess  the  things  which  are  valued  by  thee.— 
VI,  16. 

JUNE  18. 

If  a  thing  is  difficult  to  be  accomplished  by  thyself. 
do  not  think  It  is  impossible  for  man— but  if  anything 
is  possible  for  man  and  conformable  to  his  nature, 
chink  that  this  can  be  obtained  by  thyself  too.— VI,  19. 

JUNE  19. 

In  the  gymnastic  exercises,  suppose  a  man  has  torn 
Ihee  with  his  nails  or  wounded  thee.  We  are  neither 
vexed  nor  offended,  yet  wo  are  on  our  guard  against 
him,  not  as  an  enemy,  but  we  got  quietly  out  of  his 
way.  Let  thy  behavior  be  something  like  this  in  life. 
Overlook  many  things  like  antagonists  in  a  gymnasium. 
It  is  in  our  power  to  get  out  of  the  way,  and  to  have 
no  suspicion  nor  hatred.— VI,  20. 

JUNE  20. 

If  any  m;in  is  able  to  convince  and  show  me  that 
I  do  not  think  or  act  right,  I  will  gladly  change ;  for 
I  seek  the  truth  by  which  no  man  was  ever  injured. 
But  he  who  abides  in  error  and  ignorance  is  injured. 
-VI,  21. 

JUNE  21. 

If  I  do  my  duty,  other  things  trouble  me  not,  for 
they  are  either  things  without  life,  or  things  without 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AUREUUS.  29 

reason,  or  things  which  have  rambled  and  know  not 
the  way.— VI,  22. 

JUNE  22. 

On  all  occasions  call  on  the  Cods,  and  do  not  per- 
plex thyself  about  the  length  of  time  in  which  thou 
shalt  do  this  ;  for  even  three  hours  so  spent  are  suffi- 
cient.—VI,  23. 

JUNE  23. 

In  life  remember  that  every  duty  is  made  up  of 
certain  parts.  These  it  is  thy  duty  to  observe,  and 
without  being  disturbed  or  showing  anger,  to  go  on 
thy  way  and  finish  that  which  is  set  before  thee.— 
VI,  26. 

JUNE  24. 

Death  is  a  cessation  of  the  impressions  through  the 
senses,  and  of  the  pulling  of  the  strings  which  move 
the  appetites,  and  of  the  discursive  movements  of  the 
thoughts,  and  of  the  service  to  the  flesh.— VI,  28. 

JUNE  25. 

It  is  a  shame  for  thy  soul  to  be  first  to  give  way  in 
this  life,  when  the  body  does  not  give  way.— VI,  29.» 

JUNE  26. 

Keep  thyself  simple,  good,  pure,  serious,  free  from 
affectation,  a  friend  of  justice,  a  worshipper  of  the 
gods,  kind,  affectionate,  strenuous  in  all  proper  acts. 
-VI,  30. 

JUNE  27. 

Strive  to  contlaue  to  be  such  as  philosophy  wished 
to  make  thee.— VI,  30. 

JUNE  28. 
Reverence  the  gods  and  help  men. — VI,  30. 

JUNE  29. 

Short  is  life,— there  is  only  one  fruit  of  this  terrene 
life,  a  pious  disposition  and  social  acts.— VI,  30. 


30  THOUGHTS   OF  THE 

JUNE  30. 

Return  to  Iliy  sober  senses  and  call  thyself  back; 
and  when  thou  hast  roused  thyself  from  sleep  and  per- 
ceived they  were  only  dreams  which  troubled  tnee. 
now  in  thy  waking  state,  look  at  the  things  that  trou- 
ble thee  as  thon  didst  look  at  the  dreams.—  VI,  31. 

JULY  1. 

How  many  pleasures  have  been  enjoyed  by  robbers, 
patricides  aiid  tyrants.— VI,  34. 

JULY  2. 

Adapt  thyself  to  the  thlnss  with  which  thy  lot  has 
been  cast,  and,  the  men  among  whom  thou  hast  re- 
ceived thy  portion.  Love  them,  but  love  them  truly. 
—VI,  39. 

JULY  3. 

We  are  all  working  together  for  one  end.  Some 
with  knowledge  and  desijrn.  and  others  without  know 
ing  what  they  do— as  men  who  sleep.—  VI.  42. 

JULY  4. 

Does  the  sun  undertake  to  do  the  work  of  the  rain, 
or  jE  sculapius  the  work  of  Earth,  the  Fruit-Bearer  ? 
And  how  is  It  with  respect  to  each  of  the  stars?  Are 
they  not  different,  and  yet  work  together  to  the  same 
end?— VI,  43. 

JULY   5. 

Whatever  is  profitable  to  any  man,  is  profitable  to 
other  men.-  V[.  45. 

JULY  6. 

Whatever  happens  to  any  man  this  is  for  the  in- 
terest, of  the  universal.— VI,  45. 

JULY  7. 

One  thing  here  is  worth  a  great  deal— to  pass  thy 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AUREIAUS.  31 

life  in  truth  and  justice,  with  a  benevolent  disposition 
even  to  liars  and  unjust  men.—  VI,  47. 

JULY  8. 

When  thou  wishest  to  delignt  thyself,  think  of  the 
virtues  of  those  who  live  with  thee.  For  instance, 
the  activity  of  one,  the  modesty  of  another,  the  lib- 
erality of  a  third.— VI,  48. 

JULY  9. 

Accustom  thyself  to  attend  carefully  to  what  is  said 
by  another,  and  as  much  as  possible  be  in  the  speak- 
er's mind.— VI,  53. 

JULY  10. 

That  which  is  not  good  for  the  swarm,  neither  Is  it 
good  for  the  bee.— VI,  54. 

JULY  11. 

How  many,  together  with  whom  I  came  into  the 
world,  have  a' ready  gone  out  of  it.— VI.  56. 

JULY  12. 

No  man  will  hinder  thee  from  living  according  to 
the  reason  of  thy  own  nature— nothing  will  happen  to 
thee  contrary  to  the  reason  of  the  universal  nature.— 
VI,  58. 

JULY  13. 

To  the  jaundiced,  honey  tastes  bitter;  to  those 
bitten  by  mad  dogs  water  causes  fear.  Why  then  am 
I  angry  ?  Has  a  false  opinion  less  power  than  bile 
in  the  jaundiced,  or  the  poison  of  a  mad  dog?— VI,  57. 

JULY  14. 

What  kind  of  people  are  those  whom  men  wish  to 
please,  and  for  what  objects,  and  by  what  kind  of 
acts?— VI,  59. 


32  THOUGHTS   OF  THE 

JULY  15. 

Let  it  make  no  difference  to  theo  whether  thou  avt 
cold  or  warm,  sleepy  or  wakeful,  ill-spoken  of  or 
praised,  if  thou  art  doing  thy  duty.— VI,  2. 

JULY  16. 

I  can  have  that  opinion  about  anything  which  I 
ought  to  have. — VII,  2. 

JULY  17. 

The  things  which  are  external  to  my  mind,  have 
no  relation  at  all  to  my  mind.  Let  this  be  the  state 
of  thy  affects,  and  thou  standest  erect.—  VII. t 

JULY  18. 

The  idle  business  of  show,  plays  on  the 
of  sheep,  herds,  a  bone  cast  to  little  dogs,  a  15TT  of 
bread  into  fish-ponds,  laborings  of  ants  and  burden 
carrying,  runnings  about  of  frightened  little  mice, 
puppets  pulled  by  strings,— all  alike— it  is  thy  duty 
in  the  midst  of  such  things  to  show  good  humor  and 
not  a  proud  air.—  VII,  3. 

JULY  19. 

Every  man  is  worth  just  so  much  as  the  things 
about  which  he  busies  himself.— VII,  3. 

JULY  20. 

In  discourse  thou  must  attend  to  what  is  said,  and 
in  every  movement  thou  must  observe  what  is  doing. 
And  in  the  one,  thou  shouldest  see  immediately  to 
what  end  it  refers,  and  in  the  other  watch  carefully 
what  is  the  thing  signified.— VII,  4. 

JULY  21. 

Is  my  understanding  sufficient  for  this  work  or  not  ? 
If  it  is  sufficient.  I  use  it  for  the  work  as  an  instru- 
ment given  by  the  universal  nature.—  VII.  5. 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AURELiUS.  33 

JULY  22. 

If  my  understanding  is  not  sufficient  for  this  work. 
I  retire  from  it  and  give  way  to  him  who  is  able  to  do 
it  better;  unless  theio  be  some  reason  why  I  ought 
not  to  retire,  when  I  do  it  as  well  as  I  can,  taking  to 
help  me  the  man  who  can  be  most  useful  for  the  gen- 
era] good. — VII,  5. 

JULY  23. 

Whatsoever  1  can  do  by  myself,  or  with  another, 
ought  to  be  directed  to  this  only  ;  to  that  which  Is 
useful  and  well  suited  to  society.— VII,  5. 

JULY  24. 

Be  not  ashamed  to  be  helped,  for  it  is  thy  business 
to  do  thy  duty  like  a  soldier  in  the  assault  on  a  town. 
If  thou  are  lame  and  canst  not  mount  the  battlements, 
with  the  help  of  another  it  is  possible.— VII,  7. 

JULY  25. 

Let  not  future  things  disturb  theo,  for  thou  wilt, 
come  to  them  if  it  shall  be  necessary.,  having  with  thee 
the  same  reason  which  thou  now  usest  for  present 
things.  —VII,  8. 

JULY  26. 

All  things  are  implicated  with  one  another,  and 
the  bond  is  holy.— VII,  9. 

JULY  27. 

To  the  rational  being,  the  act  which  is  according  to 
nature  is  according  to  reason.— VII,  11. 

JULY  28. 
Be  thou  erect,  or  be  made  erect.— VII,  12. 

JULY  29. 

Often  say  to  thyself  "  I  am  a  member  of  a  system 
of  rational  beings"  :  if  thou  fealest  thyself  separated 


34  THOUGHTS    OF   THE 

thou  dost  not  yet  love  men  from  thy  heart.  Good 
delights  thee  not  for  its  own  sake,  and  as  doing  good 
to  thyself,  but  as  a  thing  of  propriety.— VII.  13. 

JULY  30. 

Unless  I  think  that  what  has  happened  is  an  evil 
I  am  not  injured;  and  it  is  in  my  power  not  to  think 
so.— VII,  14. 

JULY  31. 

Whatever  any  one  does  or  says,  I  must  be  good, 
just  as  if  the  gold  or  the  emerald  or  the  purple  were 
always  saying  this,  "  Whatever  any  one  does  or  says, 
I  must  be  emerald  and  keep  my  color."— VII.  15. 

AUGUST  1. 

Is  any  man  afraid  of  change?  Why,  what  that  is 
useful,  can  be  accomplished  without  change?  Canst 
thou  take  a  bath  unless  the  wood  undergoes  a  change  ? 
Canst  thou  be  nourished  unless  the  food  undergoes  a 
change  ?  Dost  thou  then  not  see  that  for  thyself  also 
to  change  is  just  the  same  and  is  frequently  necessary 
for  the  universal  nature  ?— VII,  18. 

AUGUST  2. 

Near  is  thy  forgetfulness  of  all  things  ;  and  near  the 
forgetfulness  of  thee  by  all  things.— VII,  21. 

AUGUST  3. 

It  is  peculiar  to  man  to  love  even  those  who  do 
wrong.  And  this  happens,  if  when  they  do  wrong,  it 
occurs  to  ihee  they  are  kinsmen,  and  thai  they  do 
wrong  through  ignorance  a.nd  unintentionally  and  that 
soon  both  of  you  will  die— and  above  all,  that  the 
wrong-doer  has  done  thee  no  harm  for  he  has  not 
made  thy  ruling  faculty  worse  than  it  was  before.— 
VII,  22. 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AURELJT  S.  35 

AUGUST  4. 

A  scowling  look  is  altogether  unnatural,  and  when 
often  worn,  the  result  is  that  all  comeliness  dies  away, 
—and  at  last  is  so  completely  extinguished,  that  it 
cannot  be  lighted  up  at  all.— VII,  24. 

AUGUST  5. 

When  a  man  has  done  thee  any  wrong,  immediately 
think  with  what  opinion  about  good  or  evil  he  has 
done  wrong ;  for  when  thou  hast  seen  this,  thou  wilt 
pity  him  and  neither  wonder  nor  be  angry.— VII.  20. 

AUGUST  6. 

Think  not  so  much  of  what  thou  hast  not,  as  of 
what  thou  hast.— VII,  27. 

AUGUST  7. 

Retire  into  thyself.  Do  what  is  just  and  thus  se- 
cure tranquillity.— VII,  28. 

AUGUST  8. 
Confine  thyself  to  the  present.— VII,   29. 

AUGUST  9. 

Understand  well  what  happens  to  thee  or  to  an- 
other.—VII,  29. 

AUGUST  10. 

Think  of  thy  last  hour.— VII,  29. 

AUGUST  11. 

Let  the  wrong  which  was  done  by  a  man  stay  where 
/he  wrong  was  done.— VII,  29. 

AUGUST  12. 

Direct  thy   attention  to  what  is  said.— VII.  30. 


36  THOUGHTS    OF  THE 

AUGUST  13. 

Let  thy  understanding  enter  into  the  things  that 
are  doing,  and  into  the  things  that  do  them.— VII,  30. 

AUGUST  14. 

Adorn  thyself  with  simplicity  and  modesty  and  with 
indifference  to  the  things  which  lie  between  virtue 
and  vice.— VII,  31. 

AUGUST  15. 
Love  mankind;  follow  God.— VII,  31. 

AUGUST  16. 

The  pain  which  is  intolerable  carries  us  off.  but  that 
which  lasts  a  long  time  is  tolerable.— VII.  33. 

AUGUST  17. 

From  Antisthenes.— It  is  royal  to  do  good  and  to 
be  abused.— VII,  36. 

AUGUST  18. 

It  is  a  base  thing  for  the  countenance  to  be  obedient 
and  to  regulate  and  compose  itself  as  the  mind  com- 
mands,, and  for  the  mind  not  to  be  regulated  and  com- 
posed by  itself  —VII,  37. 

AUGUST  19. 

It  is  not  right  to  vex  ourselves  at  things,  for  they 
care  naught  about  it.— Euripides.— VII.  38. 

AUGUST  20. 

Life  must  be  reaped  like  the  ripe  ears  of  corn. 
One  man  is  born;  another  dies.— Euripides.— VII,  40. 

AUGUST  21. 

If  tne  gods  care  not  for  me  and  for  my  children, 
there  is  i  reason  for  it. —VII,  41. 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AUREUUS.  37 

AUGUST  22. 

From  Plato.— A  man  who  is  good  for  anything  at 
all,  ought  not  to  compute  the  hazard  of  life  or  death, 
but  should  rather  look  to  this  in  all  he  does— is  it  just 
or  unjust  ?— VII,  44. 

AUGUST  23. 

Wherever  a  man  has  placed  himself  thinking  it  the 
best  place  for  him,  or  has  been  placed  by  a  command- 
er, there  he  ought  to  stay  and  abide  the  hazard,  tak- 
ing nothing  into  account— neither  death  or  everything 
else— before  the  baseness  of  deserting  his  post.— VII, 
45. 

AUGUST  24. 

Look  around  at  the  courses  of  the  stars  as  if  Jhou 
wort  going  along  with  them— and  constantly  consider 
the  changes  of  the  elements  into  one  another — for  such 
thoughts  purge  away  the  filth  of  the  terrene  life.— 
VII,  47. 

AUGUST  25. 

That  which  has  grown  from  the  earth,  to  the  earth; 
that  which  has  sprung  from  heavenlv  seed,  back  to 
tho  heavenly  realms  returns. — Eurinides. — VII.  50. 

AUGUST  26. 

Love  that  only  which  happens  to  thee  and  is  spun 
with  the  thread  of  thy  destiny.  For  what  is  more 
suitable?— VII,  57. 

AUGUST  27. 

Another  may  be  more  expert  in  throwing  his  op- 
ponent, but  let  him  not  bo  more  social,  nor  more  mod- 
est, nor  better  disciplined  to  meet  all  that  happens, 
nor  more  considerate  with  respect  to  the  faults  of  his 
neighbors. — VII,  52. 

AUGUST  28. 
Where   my  work  can  be   done  conformably   to   the 


38  THOUGHTS    OF  THE 

reason  which  is  common  to  gods  and  men,  there  we 
have  nothing  to  fear.— VII,  53. 

AUGUST  29. 

Consider  thyself  to  be  dead  and  to  have  completed 
thy  life  up  to  the  present  time,  and  live  according  to 
nature  the  remainer  that  is  allowed  thee. — VII.  56. 

AUGUST  30. 

Why  art  thou  not  altogether  intent  upon  the  right 
way  of  making  use  of  the  things  which  happen  to  thee, 
for  then  thou  wilt  use  them  well,  and  they  will  ba 
material  to  work  on.— VII,  58. 

AUGUST  31. 

Attend  to  thyself  and  resolve  to  be  a  good  man  in 
every  act  which  thon  doest.— VII,  58. 

SEPT  EMBER   1. 

Look  within.  Within  is  the  fountain  of  good,  and 
It  will  ever  bubble  up  if  tnou  wilt  ever  dig.— VII,  59. 

SEPTEMBER   2. 

The  art  of  life  is  like  the  wrestler's  art,  that  it 
should  stand  firm  and  ready  to  meet  onsets  which  are 
sudden  and  unexpected.— VII.  61. 

SEPTEMBER   3. 

Constantly  observe  those  whoso  approbation  thou 
wishest,  and  see  what  is  their  ruling  principle.  For 
then  thou  wilt  neither  blame  those  who  offend  invol- 
untarily, nor  wilt  thou  want  their  approbation  if  thon 
lookest  at  the  sources  of  their  opinions  and  appetites. 
—VII,  62. 

SEPTEMBER   4. 

Epicurus  says  that  pain  is  neither  intolerable  nor 
everlasting  If  thou  bearest  in  mind  that  it  has  its 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AUREU.US.  39 

Limits,   and   if  thou    addest    nothing  to   it  in  imagina- 
tion.— VII,   64. 

SEPTEMBER   5. 

Take  care  not  to  feel  towards  the  inhuaiaji  as  they 
feel  towards  men.—  VII,  65. 

SEPTEMBER    6. 

Be  not  idly  vexed  at  man's  villany,  neither  make 
yourself  a  slave  to  any  man;s  ignorance.— VII,  66. 

SEPTEMBER   7. 

It  is  very  possible  to  be  a  divine  man  and  to  be 
recognized  as  such  by  no  one.— VII,  67. 

SEPTEMBER   8. 

Very  little  is  needed  for  a  happy  life.  Because 
thou  hast  despaired  of  becoming  a  dialectician  and 
skilled  in  the  knowledge  of  nature,  do  not  for  this 
reason  renounce  the  hope  of  being  both  free  and  mod- 
est and  social  and  obedient  to  God.— VII,  67. 

SEPTEMBER   9. 

The  use  shall  say  to  that  which  falls  under  the 
hand  "  Thou  arc  the  thing  I  was  seeking"  ;  for  to  me 
that  which  presents  itself  to  me  is  always  material 
for  virtue,  and  for  the  exercise  of  art  which  belongs 
to  man  or  to  God.— VII,  68. 

SEPTEMBER  10. 

The  perfection  of  moral  character  consists  in  this 
—in  passing  each  day  as  thy  last,  in  being  neither 
excited  nor  torpid-  nor  playing  the  hypocrite.— VII,  69. 

SEPTEMBER  11. 

It  is  a  ridiculous  thing  for  a  man  not  to  fly  from 
his  own  badness  which  is  possible;  but  it  is  impos 
sible  to  fly  from  that  of  other  men.— VII,  71. 


40  THOUGHTS    OF   THE, 

SEPTEMBER  12. 

When  thou  hast  donu  a  good  act  and  another  has 
received  it,  why  dost  thou  look  for  more,  as  fools  do. 
either  to  have  the  reputation  of  having  done  a  good 
act,  or  to  obtain  a  return?— VII,  73. 

SEPTEMBER  13. 

Throw  away  the  thought  how  thou  shalt  seem  to 
others  ;  and  be  content  to  live  as  thy  nature  wills— 
in  the  belief  that  there  is  nothing  good  for  man  that 
does  not  make  him  just,  temperate,  manly,  free— and 
there  is  nothing  bad  that  does  not  do  to  the  contrary. 
—VIII,  1. 

SEPTEMBER  14. 

On  the  occasion  of  every  act,  ask  "  How  is  this  in 
respect  of  me  ?"  "  Shall  I  repent  of  it  ?"— VIII,  2. 

SEPTEMBER  15. 

Is  what  I  am  doing  the  work  of  an  intelligent,  liv- 
ing, social  being  and  of  one  who  is  under  the  same  law 
with  God?— VIII,  2. 

SEPTEMBER  16. 

Consider  that  men  will  do  the  same  things  never- 
theless, even  though  thou  shouldest  burst.— VIII,  4. 

SEPTEMBER  17. 

This  is  the  chief  thing.  Be  not  perturbed,  for  all 
things  are  according  to  the  nature  of  the  universal. 
—VIII,  5. 

SEPTEMBER  18. 

It  is  thy  duty  to  be  a  good  man,  and  what  man's 
nature  demands,  do  that  without  turning  aside. — VIII, 
5. 

SEPTEMBER  19. 

Speak  as  it  seems  to  thee  most  just,  only  let  it  be 
with  a  good  disposition,  with  modesty  and  without 
hypocrisy.— VIII,  5. 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AUREHUS.  41 

SEPTEMBER  20. 

The  nature  of  the  universal  is  change.  Yet  we  need 
not  fear  anything  new.— VIII,  6. 

SEPTEMBER  21. 

Every  particular  nature  is  part  of  a  common  nature, 
as  the  leaf  is  part  of  the  common  nature  of  the  plant. 
—VIII,  7. 

SEPTEMBER  22. 

Examine  nor  to  discover  that  any  one  thing  com- 
pared with  any  other  single  thing  is  equal  in  all  re- 
spects, tbut  compare  all  the  parts  taken  together  of 
one  thing  with  all  the  parts'  taken  together  of  an- 
other.—VIII,  7. 

SEPTEMBER  23. 

Thou  hast  not  leisure  (or  ability)  to  read.  But 
thou  hast  leisure  (or  ability)  to  check  thy  arrogance— 
to  be  superior  to  pleasure  or  pain,  or  to  the  love  of 
fame— and  leisure  not  to  be  vexed  at  stupid  or  un- 
grateful people,  nay  even  to  care  for  them.— VIII,  8. 

SEPTEMBER  24. 

Let  no  man  any  more  hear  thee  finding  fault  with 
life  or  with  thy  own  life.— VIII,  9. 

SEPTEMBER  25. 

This  thing,  what  is  it  in  itself,  in  irs  own  constitu- 
tion,  its   substance,    its    material,    its   casual  nature— 
and  what  is  it  doing  in   the  world?      And  how  long  ' 
does  it  subsist?— VIII,  11. 

SEPTEMBER  26. 

Whatever  man  thou  meetest,  say  to  thyself,  what 
opinions  has  he  about  good  and  bad?  For  if  ho  has 
such  and  such  opinions  with  respect  to  pleasure  and 
pain  and  their  causes— with  respect  to  fame  and  ig- 
nominy, death  and  life— it  is  not  strange  that  he  does 


42  THOUGHTS   OF  THE 

such  and  such  things— and  I  shall  bear  in  mind  that 
he  is  compelled  to.— VIII,  14. 

SEPTEMBER  27. 

Remember  that  as  It  is  a  shame  to  be  surprised, 
if  the  fig  tree  produces  figs,  so  it  is  a  shame  to  be 
surprised  that  the  world  produces  the  things  of  which 
it  is  productive.— VIII,  15. 

SEPTEMBER  28. 

Remember  that  to  change  thy  opinion  and  to  follow 
him  who  corrects  thy  error,  is  as  consistent  with  free- 
dom as  to  persist  in  thy  error.— VIII,  16. 

SEPTEMBER  29. 

If  it  is  a  thing  in  thy  own  power,  why  dost  thou 
do  it?  If  it  is  in  the  power  of  another,  whom  dost 
thou  blame?— VIII,  17. 

SEPTEMBER  30. 

That  which  has  died,  falls  not  out  of  the  universe. 
-VIII,  18. 

OCTOBER   1. 

Everything  exists  for  some  end— a  horse,  a  vine. 
For  what  purpose  art  thou?  To  enjoy  pleasure? 
See  if  common  sense  allows  this.— VIII,  19. 

OCTOBER  2. 

Short  lived  are  both  the  praiser  and  the  praised— 
and  all  this  is  a  nook  in  this  part  of  the  world— and 
not  even  here  do  all  agree,  not  even  any  one  with  him- 
self.—VIII,  21. 

OCTOBER   3. 

Attend  to  the  matter  which  is  before  thee ;  whether 
it  is  an  opinion,  an  act,  or  a  word.— VIII,  22. 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AURELITJS.  43 

OCTOBER   4. 

Thou  sufferest  this  justly,  for  thou  choosost  this 
rather  to  become  good  to-morrow  than  to-day. — VIII, 
22. 

OCTOBER    5. 

Man    has    three    relations— one   to   the   body   which 
surrounds  him,  one  to  the  divine  cause  from  which  all     / 
things  come  to  all,   and  one  to  those  who  live  with    ' 
Mm.— VIII,  27. 

OCTOBER   6. 

Pain 4s  either  an  evil  to  the  body— then  let  the  body 
say  what  it  thinks  about  it— or  to  the  soul.  But  the 
soul  can  maintain  its  serenity  and  not  think  it  an 
evil.  Every  judgment,  desire  or  aversion  is  within, 
and  no  evil  ascends  so  high.— VIII,  28. 

OCTOBER   7. 

Speak  both  in  the  senate  and  to  every  man  appro- 
priately without  any  affectation.  Use  plain  dis- 
course.—VIII,  30. 

OCTOBER   8. 

It  is  thy  duty  to  order  thy  life  well  in  every  single 
act.— VIII,  32. 

OCTOBER   9. 

Receive  prosperity  without  arrogance,  and  be  ready 
to  let  it  go.— VIII,  33. 

OCTOBER  10. 

Didst  thou  ever  see  a  hand  cut  off,  or  a  foot  or  a 
head  lying  anywhere  apart  from  the  rest  of  the  body  ? 
Such  doss  a  man  make  himself  who  is  not  content 
with  what  happens,  and  who  separates  himself  from 
others  and  does  anything  unsocial.— VIII,  34. 

OCTOBER   11. 

Do  not  disturb  thyself  by  thinking  of  the  whole  of 
thy  life.— VIII,  36. 


44  TIIOUUHTS    OF   THE 

OCTOBER   12. 

Let  not  thy  thoughts  at  once  embrace  all  the  vari- 
ous troubles  thon  mayest  expect,  but  on  every  occa- 
sion ask  thyself.  "  What  is  there  in  this,  past  bearing?" 
—VIII,  36. 

OCTOBER   13. 

If  thon  takes r  away  thy  opinion  about  that  which 
appeai-s  to  give  thee  pain,  thou  thyself  standest  in 
perfect  security.— VIII,  40. 

OCTOBER   14. 

Different  things  delight  different  men,  but  I  delight 
to  look  at  and  receive  all  with  welcome  eyes  and  to 
use  everything  according  to  its  value.— VIII,  43. 

OCTOBER  15. 

Take  me  and  cast  me  whore  thou  wilt,  for  then  I 
shall  keep  my  divine  part  tranquil  if  it  can  feel  and 
act  conformably  to  its  proper  constitution.- -VIII.  45. 

OCTOBER  16. 

Is  change  of  place  sufficient  reason  why  my  soul 
should  be  unhappy,  and  worse  than  it  was— depressed, 
expanded,  shrinking,  affrighted?— VIII,  45. 

OCTOBER   17. 

The  mind  which  is  freo  from  passions  is  a  citadel 
—VIII,  48. 

OCTOBER  18. 

A  cucumber  is  bitter— Throw  it  away— There  are 
briars  in  the  road— turn  aside  from  them— This  is 
enough.— VIII,  50. 

OCTOBER   19. 

Be  not  sluggish  in  thy  actions,  nor  without  method 
in  thy  conversation,  nor  wandering  in  thy  thoughts— 
nor  let  there  be  inward  contention  in  thy  soul,  nor 
external  effusion.— VIII,  51. 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AUREU. US.  45 

OCTOBER  20. 

In  life  be  not  so  busy  as  to  have  no  leisure.— 
VIII,  51. 

OCTOBER  21. 

If  a  man  should  stand  by  a  limpid  pure  spring  and 
curse  it.  still  the  spring  never  ceases  sending  up  good 
water.— VIII,  51. 

OCTOBER  22. 

Dosfr  thon  wish  to  be  praised  by  a  man  who  curses 
himself  thrice  every  hour?  Wouldst  thou  wish  to 
please  a  man  who  does  not  please  himself  ?— VIII,  53. 

OCTOBER  23. 

Generally,  wickedness  does  no  harm  at  all  to  the 
Universe,  and  particularly  one  man's  wickedness  does 
no  harm  to  another.  .  It  is  only  harmful  to  him  who 
has  «lt  in  his  power  to  be  released  from  it  as  soon  as 
he  shall  choose.— VIII.  55. 

OCTOBER  24.' 

Men  exist  for  one  another.  Teach  them  then,  or 
boar  with  them.— VIII,  59. 

OCTOBER  25. 

Enter  into  every  man's  ruling  faculty— and  also  let 
every  other  man  enter  into  thine.— VIII,  (il. 

OCTOBER  26. 

lie  who  pursues  pleasure  will  not  abstain  from  in- 
justice.—IX,  1. 

OCTOBER  27. 

Mas  not  experience  induced  thee  yet  to  fly  from 
the  pestilence,  and  hasi  thou  determined  to  abide  with 
vice?— IX,  2. 

OCTOBER  28. 
Do  not  despise  death,  but  be  well  content  with  it, 


i6  THOUGHTS   OF  THE 

since   it  is  one   of  those  things   which   nature  wills.— 
IX,  3. 

OCTOBER  29. 

Ho  who  dees  wrong,  does  wrong  against  himself. 
-IX,  4. 

OCTOBER  30. 

He  who  acts  unjustly  is  unjust  to  himself— because 
he  makes  himself  bad.— IX,  4. 

OCTOBER  31. 

Not  only  he  who  does  a  certain  tiling  acts  unjustly, 
but  often  ho  who  does  not  do  a  certain  thing.— IX,  5. 

NOVEMBER   1. 

$ 

If  thou  art  able,  correct  by  teaching  th;>se  who  do 
wrong.  If  thou  canst  not,  remember  that  indulgence 
is  given  thee  for  this  purpose.— IX,  11. 

NOVEMBER   2. 

Labor  not  as  one  who  is  wretched,  nor  yet  as  one 
who  would  be  pitded  or  admired.— IX.  1-2. 

NOVEMBER    3. 

To-day  I  have  got  out  of  all  trouble,  or  rather  I 
have  cast  out  all  trouble,  for  it  was  not  outside,  but 
within  and  in  my  opinions.— IX,  13. 

NOVEMBER   4. 

All  things  are  changing.  Thou  thyself  art  in  con- 
tinuous mutation  and  destruction,  and  so  is  the  uni- 
verse.—IX,  19. 

NOVEMBER    5. 

It  is  thy  duty  to  leave  another  man's  wrongful  act. 
there  where  it  is.— IX,  20. 

NOVEMBER    0. 
Turn  thy  thoughts  to  thy  life  as  a  child,  as  a  youth, 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AUREIAUS.  47 

as  a  man,  and  as  an  old  man— for  in  these  also  every 
change  was  a  death.  Is  this  anything  to  fear?— IX, 
21. 

NOVEMBER   7. 

Examine  thy  own  ruling  faculty  that  thou  mayest 
make  it  just.— IX,  22. 

NOVEMBER    8. 

Examdne  the  ruling  faculty  of  the  Universe,  that 
thou  mayest  remember  of  what  thou  art  a  part.— IX. 
22. 

NOVEMBER   9.    • 

Examine  the  ruling  faculty  of  thy  neighbor,  that 
thou  mayest  know  if  he  has  acted  ignorantly  or  with 
knowledge,  and  that  thou  mayest  consider  that  he  is 
akin  to  thee.— IX,  22. 

NOVEMBER   10. 

As  thou  thyself  art  a  component  part  of  a  social 
system,  so  let  every  act  of  thine  be  a  component  part 
of  social  life.— IX.  23. 

NOVEMBER   11. 

Whatever  act  of  thine  has  no  reference  either  Im- 
mediately or  remotely  to  a  social  end,  tears  asunder 
thy  life,  does  nor,  allow  it  to  be  one.  and  is  in  the 
nature  of  a  mutiny.— IX,  23. 

NOVEMBER   12. 

Quarrels  of  little  children  and  their  sports,  and 
poor  spirits  carrying  about  dead  bodies— such  is  every- 
thing.—IX,  24. 

NOVEMBER  13. 

Thou  hast  endured  infinite  troubles,  through  not 
being  contented  with  thy  ruling  faculty  when  it  does 
the  things  which  it  is  constituted  by  nature  to  do. 
—IX,  26. 


48  THOUGHTS  OF  THE 

NOVEMBER  14. 

When  another  blames  theo  or  hates  thee.  or  when 
men  say  injurious  things  about  thee,  approach  their 
poor  souls,  penetrate  within  and  see  what  hind  of  men 
they  are.  Thou  wilt  find  thou  hast  no  reason  to  be 
troubled.  Thou  must  be  well  disposed  to  them,  how- 
ever, for  by  nature  they  are  friends.— IX.  '2(1 

NOVEMBER   15. 

If  a  man  reflects  on  the  changes  and  transforma- 
tions which  follow  one  another  like  wave  after  wave, 
and  on  their  rapidity,  he  will  despise  everything  per 
ishable.-IX,  28. 

NOVEMBER  16. 

The  universal  cause  is  like  a  winter  torrent— it  <-ar- 
ries  everything  along  with  it.— IX,  29. 

NOVEMBER   17. 

Simple  and  modest  is  the  work  of  philosophy.  Draw 
me  not  aside  to  insolence  and  pride.— IX,  29. 

NOVEMBER  18. 

Thou  canst  remove  out  of  the  way  many  useless 
things  among  those  which  disturb  theo,  for  they  lie 
entirely  in  thy  opinion.— IX,  32. 

NOVEMBER   19. 

When  men  think  they  do  harm  by  their  blame  or 
good  by  their  praise,— what  an  idea !— IX,  34. 

NOVEMBER  20. 
^Loss  is  nothing  else  than  change.— IX.  35. 

NOVEMBER  21. 

Enough  of  this  wretched  life  and  murmuring  and 
apish  tricks.— IX,  37. 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AUREL.1US.  40 

NOVEMBER  22. 

Why  art  thou  disturbed?  What  is  there  new  In 
this?  What  unsettles  thee?  Is  it  the  form  of  the 
thing?  Look  at  it— Is  it  the  matter?  Look  at  it— 
Besides  these  there  is  nothing. — IX,  37. 

NOVEMBER  23. 

If  any  man  has  done  wrong  the  harm  is  his  own. 
But  pferhaps  he  has  not  done  wrong.— IX,  38. 

NOVEMBER  24. 

When  thou  blames  t  a  man  as  faithless  or  ungrate- 
ful, turn  to  thyself.  For  the  fault  is  manifestly  thy 
own,  whether  thou  did^t  trust  that  a  man  who  had 
such  a  disposition  would  keep  his  promise,  or  when 
conferring  thy  kindness  thou  didst  not  do  it  absolutely 
and  in  such  a  way  as  to  have  received  all  the  profit 
from  thy  very  act. — IX,  42. 

NOVEMBER  25. 

Wilt  thou  then,  my  soul,  never  be  good,  and  sim- 
ple, and  one,  and  naked,— more  manifest  than  the  body 
which  surrounds  thee.— X,  1. 

NOVEMBER  26. 

Remember  that  thou  art  formed  by  nature  to  bear 
everything  which  depends  on  thy  own  opinion  to  make 
bearable,  by  thinking  it  either  for  thy  interest,  or  for 
thy  duty  to  do  this.— X,  3. 

NOVEMBER  27. 

If  a  man  is  mistaken,  instruct  him  kindly  and  show 
him  his  error.  But  if  thou  art  not  able,  blame  thy- 
self— or  blame  not  even  thyself. — X,  4. 

NOVEMBER  28. 

When  thou  hast  assumed  these  names,  good,  true, 
modest,  rational,  a  man  of  equanimity  and  magnani- 


50  THOUGHTS   OF  THE 

mous,  take  care  thou  dost  not  change  them,  and  if 
thou  shouldest  lose  them,  quickly  return  to  them.— 
X,  8. 

NOVEMBER  29. 

It  will  greatly  help  thee  to  keep  the  names  which 
thou  hast  assumed  of  good,  true,  modest,  rational,  if 
t,hou  wilt  remember  the  gods— that  they  do  not  wish  to 
be  nattered,  but  wish  all  reasonable  beings  to  be  made 
like  themselves.— X,  8. 

NOVEMBER  30. 

Equanimity  is  voluntary  acceptance  of  the  things 
assigned  to  thee  by  the  common  nature.— X,  8. 

DECEMBER   1. 

Magnanimity  is  the  elevation  of  the  intelligent  part 
above  the  pleasures  or  pains  of  the  flesh,  above  fame, 
death  and  all  such  things.— X,  8. 

DECEMBER   2. 

It  will  help  thee  if  thou  rememberest  that  what 
does  the  work  of  a  fig  tree  is  a  fig  tree,  that  what 
does  the  work  of  a  bee  is  a  bee,  and  that  what  does 
the  work  of  a  man  is  a  man.— X,  8. 

DECEMBER   3. 

A  spider  is  proud  when  it  has  caught  a  fly,  a  man 
when  he  has  caught  a  poor  hare,  or  taken  a  little  fish 
in  a  net— Are  thesa  not  robbers,  if  thou  lookest  at 
their  opinions?— X,  10. 

DECEMBER  4. 

Acquire  the  contemplative  way  of  seeing  how  all 
things  change  into  one  another.  Nothing  is  so  much 
adapted  to  produce  magnanimity.— X,  11. 


EMPEROR  MAKCUS  AURELJ.US.  51 

DECEMBER    5. 

If  thou  seest  clear,  go  by  this  way  content  without . 
turning  back.  If  thou  dost  not  see  clear,  stop  and 
take  the  best  advisers.  But  if  any  other  things  op- 
pose thee,  go  on  according  to  thy  powers  with  due 
consideration,  keeping  to  that  which  appears  to  be 
just— X,  12. 

DECEMBER   6. 

If  thou  dost  fail,  let  it  be  in  attempting  what  is 
just— X,  12. 

DECEMBER   7. 

Inquire  of  thyself  as  soon  as  thou  wakest  from 
sleep,  whether  it  will  make  any  difference  to  thee,  if 
another  does  what  is  just  and  right.  It  will  make 
no  difference.— X,  13. 

DECEMBER    8. 

Short  is  the  little  which  remains  to  thee  of  life- 
Live  as  on  a  mountain.— X,  15. 

DECEMBER   9. 

No  longer  talk  at  all  about  the  Mnd  of  man  that  a 
good  man  ought  to  bo;  but  bo  such.— X,  10. 

DECEMBER  10. 

When  thou  art  offended  at  any  man's  fault,  forth- 
with turn  to  thyself  and  reflect  in  what  like  manner 
thou  dost  err— for  example,  in  thinking  that  money 
is  a  good  thing,  or  pleasure,  or  a  bit  of  reputation, 
and  the  like.— X,  30. 

DECEMBER   11. 

All  things  that  happen  in  thy  life  are  exorcises  for 
the  reason.  Persevere,  therefore,  and  make  all  things 
thy  own,  as  the  blazing  fire  makes  flame  and  bright- 
ness of  all  that  is  thrown  into  it.— X,  31. 


52  THOUGHTS  OF  THE 

DECEMBER  12. 

Lot  it  not  bo  in  auy  man's  power  to  say  truly  of 
thee  that  thou  art  not  simple,  or  that  thon  art  not 
good— This  Is  in  thy  power.— X,  32. 

DECEMBER  13. 

Accustom  thyself  as  much  as  possible  to  inquire — 
for  what  object  does  this  man  do  this.  But  begin 
with  thyself  and  examine  thyself  first.— X,  37. 

DECEMBER  14. 

Have  1  done  something  lor  the  general  interest? 
Well,  then  I  have  had  my  reward.— XI,  4. 

DECEMBER   15. 

A  branch  cut  off  from  the  adjacent  branch  must  of 
necessity  be  cut  off  from  the  wThole  tree  also — So  too 
a  man,  when  ho  is  separated  from  another  man,  has 
fallen  off  from  the  whole  social  community.— XT,  8. 

DECEMBER  16. 

Look  to  guard  steady  judgment  and  action,  as  well 
as  gentleness,  to  those  who  would  hinder  and  trouble 
thee.— XI,  9. 

DECEMBER  17. 

Suppose  any  man  shall  despise  me.  Let  him  look 
to  it.  But  I  will  look  to  this,  that  I  neither  do  nor 
say  anything  deserving  of  contempt.  Shall  any  man 
hate  me?  Let  him  look  to  it.  But  I  will  be  mild 
and  benevolent,  noble  and  honest. — X,  13. 

DECEMBER   18. 

Men  despise  one  another,  and  Hatter  one  another  ; 
and  men  wish  to  raise  themselves  above  one  another, 
and  do  crouch  before  one  another. — XI,  14. 

DECEMBER  19. 
The  man  who  is  honest  and  good,  ought  to  be  like 


EMPEROR  MARCUS  AUREL.1US.  58 

the  man  who  smells  strong,  so  that  the  bystander, 
when  he  comes  near,  must  smell  him  whether  he 
chooses  or  not.— XI,  15. 

DECEMBER  20. 

A  man  must  learn  a  great  deal  to  enable  him  to 
pass  a  correct  judgment  on  another  man's  acts.— XI. 
18. 

DECEMBER  21. 

A  good  disposition  is  invincible  if  it  is  genuine ; 
and  not  an  affected  smile  and  acting  a  part.— XI,  18. 

DECEMBER  22. 

In  the  same  degree  that  a  man's  mind  is  free  from 
passion,  in  the  same  degree  it  is  nearer  to  strength.— 
XI,  18. 

DECEMBER  23. 

As  a  sense  of  pain  is  characteristic  of  weakness,  so 
also  is  anger.  He  who  yields  to  pain  and  ho  who 
yields  to  anger,  both  are  wounded  and  both  are  sub- 
dued.—XI,  18. 

DECEMBER  24. 

Socrates  used  to  call  the  opinions  of  the  many 
Lamiae— bugbears  to  frighten  children.— XI,  23. 

DECEMBER  25. 

Epictetus  says  "the  unripe  grape,  the  ripe  bunch, 
the  dried  grape  are  all  changes— not  into  nothing,  but 
into  something  which  exists  not  yet."— XI,  35. 

DECEMBER  26. 

Epictetuy  says  "  No  man  can  rob  us  of  our  free- 
will."— XI,  36. 

DECEMBER  27. 

If  it  is  not  right,  do  not  do  it.  If  it  is  not  true, 
do  not  say  it.— XII,  17. 


54  THOUGHTS  OF  MAKCUS  AUKELIUS. 

DECEMBER  28. 

Practise  thyself  in  the  things  thou  despairest  of 
accomplishing ;  for  even  the  left  hand  holds  the  bridle 
stronger  than  the  right,  because  in  that  it  has  been 
practised.— XII,  6. 

DECEMBER  29. 

I  have  often  wondered  how  it  is  that  each  man 
loves  himself  bettor  than  all  the  rest  of  men,  but  yet 
sets  less  value  on  his  own  opinion  of  himself,  than 
on  the  opinion  of  others.— XII,  4. 

DECEMBER  30. 

What  is  there  now  in  my  mind?  Is  it  fear  or  sus- 
picion, or  desire,  or  any  such  thing?  Then  perceive 
that  thou  hasl  in  thee  something  better  and  diviner 
than  the  things  which  cause  those  various  effects  and 
pull  thee  by  their  strings.— XII,  19. 

DECEMBER  31. 

When  thou  art  troubled,  thou  hast  forgotten  that 
all  things  happen  according  to  the  universal  nature — 
forgotten  that  another  man's  wrong  act  is  nothing  to 
thee— forgotten  that  the  kinship  between  man  and  the 
race  is  not  of  blood  or  seed,  but  of  intelligence — for- 
gotten that  every  man's  intelligence  is  an  efflux  from 
the  Deity  and  that  nothing  is  a  man's  own— but  even 
his  child  and  his  own  body  and  his  very  soul  came 
from  the  Deity— and  thou  hast  forgotten  that  every 
man  lives  the  present  timo  only  and  loses  only  this. 
-XII,  26. 


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